GRANDVIEW: Pottstown's Strunk, Boyertown's Merkel win features

By Special to The Times Herald

Monday, September 2, 2013

BECHTELSVILLE — For the first time this season nine time track champion Jeff Strunk was able to earn a win in a regular season 30-lap NASCAR 358 Modified feature race at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night picking up $2750 (including the TP Trailers bonus money) with the Vinnie Salerno owned Keizer Aluminum Wheels No. 4*. In the 25-lap feature for Late Models, Sean Merkel, of Boyertown, charged to the front at the drop of the green with his Merkel Rebar No. 118 and held off all challengers leading all the laps to win his fourth of the season. And in the 25-lap main event for Sportsman, Brad Brightbill, of Sinking Springs, was able to wheel his own Vinnie’s Towing & Recovery No. 19 to his first win of the season.

Rookie Modified racer Andy Ressler took the lead at the start for the 28-car starting field in the 30-lap feature for the NASCAR Whelen 358 Modifieds and looked like he just might be able to pull off a win, leading for 14 laps while a variety of racers battled for the front running positions. At the 15-lap marker, veteran Jon Kellner Sr., looking for his second win of the season, took charge and set the pace for seven laps while Strunk challenged coming from 16th starting position. With 22 laps in the record book, Strunk charged to the front and the Pottstown racer was able to lead the rest of the way to grab his first win at Grandview since he took home the $50,000 in the 2012 BPG Racing Freedom 76 back in September. Finishing in second was nine-time feature winner Duane Howard (Oley) while third spot was earned by Craig VonDohren (Oley). Kellner Sr. (Lansdale) finished fourth while Ray Swinehart (Perkiomenville) grabbed fifth.

With a 365-point lead going into the final night of points racing on Saturday, Sept. 7th, VonDohren has claimed his seventh track championship.

Erik Renninger held first position for the first two laps of the 25-lap Sportsman feature before young Ryan Lilick took control and led for 20 laps looking as if he was on his way to a first career win. With just three laps to go veteran Brad Brightbill squeezed under Lilick in the first turn and went to the front and led the field to the checkered flag claiming his first win of the 2013 season. Second spot went to Collegeville based Lilick for his best effort of the season. Brett Kressley (Orefield) took third followed by Jared Umbenhauer (Richland) and Guy Germano (Richlandtown).

With a 533-point lead in the chase for the title going into the final night of point racing Jared Umbenhauer has claimed his second straight NASCAR Sportsman track championship.

In the 25-lap Late Model feature, Merkel took command on the first lap and led every lap to claim his fourth feature race victory of the season. Sam Schlosberg (Green Lane) challenged the leader a couple of times but had to settle for a second place finish while Danny Snyder (Green Lane) looking for his fourth win had to settle for third. Defending champion Chuck Schutz (Pottstown) claimed fourth while Wayne Pfeil (Mohnton) grabbed fifth.

Jason Miller had been the point leader going into the night’s racing action but finished seventh while Schutz finished fourth, putting Schutz back in front in the battle for the Late Model title. Schutz takes a seven-point lead into the final night of Late Model racing next Saturday. There are six different drivers that still have a mathematical chance of winning the title.

Qualifying races for the 358 Modifieds, each 12-laps, were won by Jon Kellner Sr., Addison Meitzler, Todd Smith and Eric Biehn. The two 10-lap consolation races went to Craig VonDohren and Kevin Hirthler. The 8-lap qualifiers for the Sportsman were won by Jordan Henn, Brett Kressley and Erik Renninger while the two 8-lap qualifying events for the Late Models were won Sean Merkel and Steve Nederostek.

The Hard Charger award for the Modifieds sponsored by Bobby Gunther Walsh and sponsors went to Craig VonDohren coming from 22nd to finish 3rd in the feature. The Searock Lawn Care Hard Charger award for Sportsman was earned by Brad Brightbill going from 14th to first and the Jeff Teets’ Salvage Transport Hard Charger award for Late Models went to Ron Kline driving from 11th to 6th.

Cargo Trailer Sales of Lansdale had $50 gift certificates for 10th place finishers in each feature while Dan’s Deli has their special hoagies for the leader of each feature at the halfway point. VP Racing Fuels has a $150 product bonus for the first NASCAR 358 Modified feature finisher using their fuel, $100 product bonus for the first Late Model feature finisher using their fuel and $75 product bonus for the first Sportsman feature finisher using their fuel and carrying VP decals on the race car and VP patch on uniform.

Coming up on Saturday, September 7, 7:30 p.m. is an action packed tripleheader featuring the NASCAR 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Sportsman stock cars in their Final point races of the season. The night will be sponsored by Green Lane Wm. Penn and Four Star Lettering. Adult admission is $15 while youngsters 12-and-under are admitted free. Advance tickets for BPG Racing Freedom 76 set for Sept. 14 on sale race night.

On Sunday, September 8, 1 p.m. the final Outlaw Enduro racing events of the season will be presented with the big cars and small cars each racing in 150 lap events. The Race of Champions will go 30 laps and the Limited Open Class main event will be a 40-lapper. The Blast from the Past Vintage Cars will also be in action. Adult admission is just $10 while youngsters 12 and under are admitted FREE.

Information on racing at Grandview Speedway can be had by checking in at www.grandviewspeedway.com or telephone 610.754.7688. In addition the official Grandview Speedway Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/grandviewspeedwayinc or check in on Twitter at @gviewspeedway.